Geranium plant named ‘Fisorchi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named ‘Fisorchi’, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized by the combined features of very light pink and white, semi-double flowers, medium-sized inflorescences well above the foliage, early and rich flowering, uniform dark-green foliage, and relatively compact plant habit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of geranium,botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Fisorchi’.

‘Fisorchi’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new geranium varieties with very light pink flowercolor in combination with dark-green foliage. ‘Fisorchi’ originated froma hybridization made by the inventor Angelika Utecht in a controlledbreeding program in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain, in 1996.

The female parent was the variety ‘Roseball’ (unpatented), PlantBreeder's Right ‘Penbab’ in Europe characterized by light-pink,semi-double flowers with distinct white eyes at the bases of upperpetals, and medium green foliage with weak zonation. The male parent of‘Fisorchi’ was a hybrid seedling, no. 1927-9 (unpatented), which ischaracterized by single-type white-pink eyes, dark-green foliage, andcompact plant habit with poor branching characteristics.

‘Fisorchi’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of thestated cross by Angelika Utecht in 1997 in a controlled environment inGaldar, Gran Canaria, Spain. The first act of asexual reproduction of‘Fisorchi’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from theinitial selection in the fall of 1993 in a controlled environment inGaldar, Gran Canaria, Spain, by, or under the supervision of, AngelikaUtecht.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plantinitiated in May 1998 in Hillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany, andcontinuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Fisorchi’ are firmly fixed andare retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘Fisorchi’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describeplants grown in Hillscheid, Germany, and in Langley, British Columbia,Canada, under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generallyused in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Fisorchi’ in combination distinguish thisgeranium as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Very light pink flowers with large white center;

2. Round, medium-sized inflorescences, well above the foliage;

3. Uniform, dark-green foliage without or with only very weak zonation;

4. Weak to medium vigor, relatively compact plant habit; and

5. Early spring flowering response, floriferous throughout the summer.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to ‘Fisorchi’ is the variety ‘Balsholila’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 11,679), and the parental variety ‘Roseball’. Incomparison to ‘Balsholila’, ‘Fisorchi’ has a lighter flower color, moreround shaped flowers, in contrast to the slightly zygomophic flowers of‘Fisorchi’, and more compact plant habit. In comparison to ‘Roseball’,‘Fisorchi’ has a lighter flower color and distinctly darker greenfoliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘Fisorchi’ with colors being as true as possible withan illustration of this type. The measurements were taken in Langley,British Columbia, Canada, on Jul. 20, 2000, 15 weeks after planting ofrooted cuttings into 6 inch pots. The plants had not been pinched.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.). The color values weredetermined indoors from plants developed in a green-house in May 2000,in Hillscheid, Germany.

Classification:

Botanical.—A hybrid of the species Pelargonium zonale L'Hérit.

Commercial.—Zonal geranium, cv. ‘Fisorchi’.

Inflorescence:

Umbel.—Shape: Almost semi-spherical. Average diameter: 116 mm. Averagedepth: 55 mm. Peduncle length: 162 mm. Peduncle color: Green, RHS 137 C,slight infusion of anthocyanin in parts, brownish, RHS 179 A. Pedicellength: 31 mm. Pedicel color: About RHS 179 B, with light green at thelower end, RHS 144 A. Number of flowers per umbel: About 30. Lastingnessof the umbel: Approximately 17-18 days at 18° C.

Corolla.—Average diameter: 49 mm. Form: Semi-double. Shape: Relativelylarge, round, weakly cup-shaped. Number of petals: 6-8. Size of petals:Upper petals are 27-28 mm long, 18-21 mm wide; lower petals are 23-24 mmlong, 23-25 mm wide. Shape of petals: Obovate, attenuate base, upper endrounded, margin entire. Number of petaloids: 1-2. Color of petaloids:Upper surface is RHS 65 B, lower surface is RHS 65 D. Color (generaltonality from a distance of three meters): Very light pink. Color ofupper petals: From RHS 68 D to RHS 65 B. Markings of upper petals: Largewhite macules at the bases, RHS 155D. Color of lower petals:: From RHS68 D to RHS 65 B, and small white RHS 155 D to very light pink RHS 69 Bbases. Color of lower surface of petals: Light pink RHS 65 B near themargin, to lighter shades of pink from RHS 65 C to RHS 65 D, with white155 D in the middle. Color of sepals: Outer suface green, RHS 143 C,reddish-brown RHS 179 B at the base, inner surface light green RHS 143C, base RHS 179 A. Size of sepals: 11-12 mm in length, 4 mm in diameterfor the largest, upper sepal, 2-3 mm in diameter for the other sepals.Shape of sepals: Linear to lanceolate, acute tip, base truncate, marginentire, surface with weak, short pubescence. Number of sepals: 5.

Bud: (just prior to petals unfolding).—Shape: Elliptical. Color (lowerpart — sepals): Mainly green, RHS 137 D, weak reddish-brown spot, RHS179 B, at the base. Color (upper part — petals): Cream-pink, RHS 49 B.Length: 16 mm. Width: 8 mm.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: 7-9 fertile anthers, whitish to lightpink filaments, orange pollen, RHS 33 A, plentiful quantity of pollenproduced. Gynoecium: 5-6-lobed, light pink stigma, pink filament, onepistil per flower. Fertility/Seed set: Occasionally a few seeds aredeveloped, oblong, 4-5 mm in length, brown, RHS 177 B.

Spring flowering response period.—In Hillscheid, Germany, in 2000,plants had on average 1.7 flowers opened 9 weeks after planting ofrooted cuttings.

Outdoor flower production.—Rich flowering, the flower count in 2000, inHillscheid, Germany, indicated about 5 inflorescences per plant in midMay.

Durability.—Good stability of flower color, relatively good rainresistance.

Lastingness of the individual bloom.—Approximately 8 days at 18° C.

Fragrance.—None.

Plant:

Foliage.—Shape: Kidney-shaped. Base: Cordate with open gap between lowerends of the leaf. Margin: Bicrenated, somewhat wavy. Texture: Uppersurface is slightly velvety. Size of leaf: 77 mm wide, approximately 50mm long. Color of upper surface: Dark-green, approximately RHS 137 A.Color of undersurface: RHS 137 C. Color of zonation: Absent or veryweak, darker green, RHS 147 A. Size of petioles: 50-60 mm long, 3 mmwide. Color of petioles: RHS 143 A.

General appearance and form.—Stem color: Light green, RHS 137 D.Branching pattern: 2.9 branches. Plant size: 21 cm as measured from thesoil to the surface of the foliage canopy, without inflorescences; 27.9cm wide.

Disease pest resistance susceptibility.—None observed to date.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named‘Fisorchi’, as described and illustrated.